City and Sheriff’s Office Launch Weekday Traffic Crash Partnership in Montgomery
The City of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office announced a joint partnership Monday to support traffic crash response within city limits, creating a new operational bridge between the Sheriff’s Office and the Montgomery Police Department. Under the agreement, three sworn deputies trained in accident investigation will hit the city streets Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to handle qualifying calls.
The arrangement is designed to share investigative duties and help both agencies make effective use of available law enforcement resources. Rather than having city officers tied up for hours at minor fender-benders, the assigned deputies will absorb a specific tier of non-injury and minor-injury collisions, freeing up municipal units for other public safety needs.
Defining the Scope of Deputy-Handled Crashes
Not every roadside collision falls under the new agreement. The three deputies will focus exclusively on crashes involving personal-use vehicles that result in no injuries or minor injuries. Under the operational guidelines, a minor injury is one that does not reasonably appear to require emergency medical treatment, hospitalization or transportation for treatment, and does not require a specialized investigation.
Commercial vehicles, serious bodily injuries, and fatalities remain strictly outside the deputies’ jurisdiction. If a deputy arrives at a scene and discovers commercial vehicles, serious bodily injury, a fatality or suspected fatality, or other circumstances requiring MPD involvement, protocol requires immediate notification to the Montgomery Police Department to coordinate a full transfer of the investigation. The police department also retains full authority to respond to, assist with or assume responsibility for any crash within city limits.
Leadership Perspectives on Resource Efficiency
Local leaders point to reduced response times and smarter allocation of county and municipal personnel as the primary goals of the initiative. Splitting the routine workload aims to improve the efficiency of investigations and minimize the impact of traffic incidents on the community.
“Working together allows us to better serve the people who depend on us every day,” said Mayor Steven L. Reed. “This partnership gives MPD additional support for qualifying traffic crashes while allowing our officers to address other public safety needs across Montgomery. I appreciate Sheriff Cunningham and his team for their collaboration and shared commitment to keeping our community safe.”
“By providing additional assistance with traffic accidents, we can reduce response times, improve the efficiency of investigations, and minimize the impact of traffic incidents on our community,” said Sheriff Derrick Cunningham. “Ultimately, this effort is about working together to better serve our citizens and make our roadways safer.” Sheriff Derrick Cunningham
City Pays Annual Fee for Sheriff Department Services
While the deputies will operate inside city limits during designated hours, they remain under the supervision of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office will provide their training, vehicles and equipment, while each agency will prepare and maintain reports for the crashes it investigates.
To fund the personnel and operational costs associated with the services, the City will pay the Montgomery County Commission $936,183 annually. Both agencies retain the right to request mutual assistance whenever circumstances warrant, with the safety of motorists, the public and responding personnel guiding the appropriate response.
